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B’ e Leabhar Ùrnaighean Obar Dheathain, The Aberdeen Breviary, a’ chiad leabhar mòr a chaidh a chur an clò ann an Alba. Bha sin ann an Dùn Èideann ann an còig ceud deug is deich (1510). Carson a tha ceangal aig an leabhar do dh’Obar Dheathain, ma-thà? Uill, ’s e Easbaig a’ bhaile sin, Uilleam Elphinstone, a bha air cùl a’ phròiseict.

               Tha an leabhar prìseil. Tha e làn ùrnaighean a bha sagartan a’ dèanamh aig diofar amannan tron latha agus air diofar làithean tron bhliadhna. Agus tha cunntasan ann de dh’eachdraidh-bheatha nan naomh a tha co-cheangailte ri Alba.

                Tha an leabhar ag innse mu Naomh Dhubhthaich. Tha esan ceangailte ri Baile Dhubhthaich ann an Ros an Ear. Rinn e a chiad mhìorbhail nuair a bha e òg. Chuir a thidsear gu ceàrdach e. Bha e ag iarraidh èibhleagan airson teine a chur thuige. Thug an gobha na h-èibhleagan don ghille na uchd. Thug Dubhthach do a thidsear iad. Cha robh comharra de losgadh air a chuid aodaich.

               Turas eile, bha pìos muicfheòla le fàinne òir innte. Chaidh a thoirt do dheisciobal aig Dubhthach – airson a thoirt do Dhubhthach fhèin. Stad an deisciobal ann an cladh. Bha e airson ùrnaighean a dhèanamh do na daoine a bha aig fois an sin. Thàinig clamhan-gobhlach. Ghoid e an fheòil agus am fàinne.

               Dh’inns an deisciobal mu na thachair do Dhubhthach. Rinn an naomh ùrnaigh. Thill an clamhan-gobhlach leis an fheòil agus leis an fhàinne. Ghabh Dubhthach am fàinne dha fhèin. Thug e an fheòil don chlamhan.

               Tha stòiridh eile co-cheangailte ri baile Dhòrnaich a tha faisg air Baile Dhubhthaich. Bhathar a’ marbhadh beathach mairt air fèill naoimh. ‘Cò bheir a chuid do Dhubhthach?’ thuirt fear. ‘Mise,’ fhreagair clèireach.

            Ge-tà, bha stoirm mhòr ann. Cha robh sgeul air a’ ghealaich. Bha an oidhche dubh dorch. Bha an t-eagal air a’ chlèireach. Cha robh solas aige. Ach bha earbsa aige ann an Naomh Dhubhthaich, agus dh’fhàg e an taigh le pìos feòla air pòla. Chaidh an fheòil na leus, a’ soilleireachadh an rathaid don chlèireach. Dìreach tè de na mìorbhailean a chuireadh às leth Naomh Dhubhthaich.

The Aberdeen Breviary is the first major book that was printed in Scotland. That was in Edinburgh in 1510. Why is the book connected to Aberdeen, then? Well, it’s the Bishop of that city, William Elphinstone, that was behind the project.

        The book is valuable. It’s full of prayers that priests were making at different times through the day and on different days through the year. And there are biographical accounts of the saints that are connected to Scotland.

        The book tells about St Duthac. He is connected to Tain in Easter Ross. He conducted his first miracle when he was young. His teacher sent him to a smiddy. He was wanting glowing embers to light a fire. The blacksmith gave the embers to the lad in his bosom. Duthac gave them to his teacher. There was no mark of burning on his clothes.

        Another time, there was a piece of pork with a gold ring in it. It was given to a disciple of Duthac – to give to Duthac himself. The disciple stopped in a cemetery. He wanted to pray for people who were at rest there. A red kite came. It stole the meat and the ring.

        The disciple told Duthac what had happened. The saint prayed. The kite returned with the meat and the ring. Duthac took the ring for himself. He gave the meat to the kite.

        There is another story connected to the town of Dornoch that is close to Tain. A cow was being killed on a saint’s feast-day. ‘Who will give Duthac his share?’ said a man. ‘Me,’ replied a cleric.

        However, there was a great storm. There was no sign of the moon. The night was pitch black. The cleric was frightened. He had no light. But he had confidence in St Duthac, and he left the house with a piece of meat on a pole. The meat turned into a flaming torch, lighting the way for the cleric. Just one of the miracles attributed to St Duthac.